Go Back

Pork Chile Verde

Homemade Pork Chile Verde with tangy tomatillo sauce and tender pork, perfect for tacos or rice.
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 25 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Dinner, Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican

Ingredients
  

  • 3  lbs pork loin or pork shoulder trimmed and cut into 1″ pieces
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 2 Tbsp oil vegetable or canola
  • 1 large yellow onion chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • ½ Tbsp ground cumin
  • ½ Tbsp dried oregano
  • 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 4 fresh poblano chiles seeded and halved
  • 2 jalapeños seeded and halved (optional for less heat)
  • 1.5  lbs fresh tomatillos husks removed and halved
  • ½ cup fresh cilantro coarsely chopped

Method
 

Season & Sear the Pork
  1. Season pork pieces generously with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a large stockpot over high heat. Once hot, add pork in batches and sear until golden on all sides (about 3–4 minutes per batch). Remove and set aside.
Sauté Aromatics
  1. In the same pot, add chopped onion and sauté until soft. Stir in minced garlic, cumin, and oregano, cooking for 30 seconds more until fragrant.
Braise Pork
  1. Return pork to the pot. Pour in chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat, cover, and cook for 2–4 hours until pork is tender and shreds easily. If needed, add more liquid to keep pork partially submerged.
Broil & Puree the Sauce
  1. Preheat oven to high broil. Line a baking sheet with foil or spray with oil. Arrange poblano chiles, jalapeños, and tomatillos cut-side down. Broil for 7–10 minutes until slightly charred and caramelized.
  2. Transfer roasted peppers and tomatillos to a sealed plastic bag to steam for 5 minutes. Peel off the skins and discard.
  3. In a blender, combine roasted vegetables and cilantro. Purée until smooth.
Combine & Simmer
  1. Add the green chile-tomatillo purée to the pork along with its braising juices. Stir to integrate and simmer for another 30–45 minutes until sauce thickens and melds with the pork.